What Have Jealousy and Greed Done to the Love of God?

15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant; (Matt. 21:15)

We here in this passage from Matthew 21 a typical human response: Jealousy.  The reaction to someone who seems to be receiving praise, honor and recognition that you feel should be given to you.  Here is the scene as Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a colt of a donkey.  The people place palm branches and other article on the road before Jesus, yelling shouts of welcome and honor.  Glad for his presence among them.  They call him Hosanna in the Highest heaven!  The called him Blessed!  And the Chief Priest and elders were, to say the least, not happy.  They had had it with this imposter! It was time to put a stop to his interference and questioning of their God given authority.  He was a trouble maker!  Thats all!  And they wanted expose his hypocrisy.  And so they confront him!  

 "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to teach here?"

Such a common reaction, jealousy!  Such a divisive form of human control.

But instead of Jesus answering their question, he asks them a question.25 About the baptism of John - who authorized it: heaven or humans?"   A question  that the Chief Priest and elders quickly realize will shed a bad light on their faith. So instead of saying what they really believed, they claimed ignorance. To which Jesus then simply tells a parable that will also convict the 'religious leader' of their hypocritical stance of saying one thing and doing another.  They preach one thing, yet don't follow what comes out of their months. They prance around in public in their religious garb and spout words for faith and love of God.  And yet act quite the opposite.  And so Jesus publicly puts them I'm their place by suggesting that the lowest of low people -- tax collector and prostitutes -- will go into the kingdom of God before them.  BAM! 

There is one thing that Jesus had/has an extreme lack of tolerance for and that is non-belief and hypocritical behavior.  That is clear throughout the Gospels.  And the religious leaders were so guilty of posing as faithful to God's call to live justly and lovingly.  But instead they were always looking out for their own welfare and comfort.

Read the passage for yourself and see what you hear.

23 Then he was back in the Temple, teaching. The high priests and leaders of the people came up and demanded, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to teach here?" 

24 Jesus responded, "First let me ask you a question. You answer my question and I'll answer yours. 

25 About the baptism of John - who authorized it: heaven or humans?" 

26 if we say 'humans,' we're up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet." 

27 They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they answered. Jesus said, "Then neither will I answer your question. 

28 "Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.' 

29 "The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went.

30 "The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went. 

31 "Which of the two sons did what the father asked?" They said, "The first." 

32 John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn't care enough to change and believe him. (Matt. 21:23-32 The Message)